Where was God on “that” Friday?

Where was God on Friday, when innocent little children were slaughtered like animals? Where was God when evil was seemingly allowed to run free on a wild rampage? He was present. No, He was VERY present. He was in the classroom. Yes, I know there are all kinds are comments, FB posts and such where God says "y’all won’t allow me in schools anymore". I understand the argument that we booted God out, but we actually don't have the authority to tell God where He can and can't be!

He was there! And He gathered those kids up in His sheltering arms, like a hen gathers chicks under her wing. I know this because Jesus said “Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to those who are like these children.” (Matthew 19:14) And He who wept at the grave of Lazarus has a heart for all His children, and none more than little children. They are safe with Jesus!

The Bible says there's one thing that gets God's fullest attention more than anything else, and that is innocent blood which cries out to Him. Where is God in such tragedy? Very present! He is all over that kind of situation, giving a dying grace which you and I have not experienced only because we've not yet needed it. God is love, and in His character we know He is there where He is needed most.

And these kids which looked forward to their Christmas party next week awoke together, not in a better place, but the BEST place, and what a class party it was and continues to be...and we, the saved, will one day join in the festivities which will last for all eternity!

“Where was God?” …

1. The same place He was when Adam rebelled in Eden – He was present, and waiting to cover his sin. (Gen 3)

Where was God when man first raised his ugly head of defiance and rebellion? Was He really present? Couldn’t He have stopped it before it began? Oh, it is not a matter of whether or not He could have. It is a matter of His design for humanity and His plan of redemption. He designed us with a freedom of choice - freewill. In His sovereign foreknowledge He made provision before the world was ever created for man’s redemption; knowing full well that man would make disastrous choices from the beginning. When Adam and Eve finally “fessed-up”, He was there with a covering for their nakedness and shame; exacting the ultimate punishment on an innocent victim to cover man’s sin. But, He was there!

“Where was God?” …

2. The same place He was when Noah built an ark – very present, and protecting him from disaster. (Gen 6-9)

Sadly, man’s rebellion did not end with Adam and Eve. Sin brought a curse to the earth and bad things happen, not because of God, but because of man's sin against God! Adam's sons, and their son’s sons for every generation followed in their rebellious path. Until such time that the wickedness of man filled the whole earth and its stench rose as an offence to the Holiness of God. Yet in the midst of such ungodliness, “But Noah found favor with the LORD.” (Gen 6:8). Here was a man, not a perfect, but a righteous man, who faithfully proclaimed the righteousness of God. (2 Pet 2) And when God, grieved by man’s wicked rebellion, determined to wipe man from the face of the earth, He furthermore determined to spare Noah and his family, and from their stock re-populate planet earth. So in mankind’s greatest natural disaster, God was on His throne protecting His own.

“Where was God?” …

3. The same place He was when Joseph was rotting in jail – ever present, accomplishing His perfect will for higher purposes than man can discern ahead of time. (Gen 37-50)

If ever anyone was misunderstood and ill treated, it was Joseph. If ever anyone suffered wrongly, it was Joseph. Yet with all his hardships, problems and abuse, Joseph was able to honestly say, “You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. (Genesis 50:20) This was certainly true in the case of his brothers selling him into slavery, Mrs. Potiphar falsely accusing him of attempted rape, and the lapse of memory of his Butler friend. Yet each step of the way, God was able to take Joseph’s trying circumstance and mold him ever more closely into the man he would one day become. He was there all the time, but Joseph must have wondered at times where God was, in the end all knew well He was there all the time.

“Where was God?” …

4. The same place He was when Job lost his children and everything he had {except a nagging wife} – present, and proving Himself to be God despite unfortunate circumstances. (Job 1-2)

Again we see a man, a good man, a godly man standing for what is right and hating what is wrong. Did being “blameless and upright” immune Job from problems, or even disaster? Of course not! There were evil men in his day, too, who were willing to kill and steal to get what they wanted. And, he became the special target of Satanic fury, and remember that Satan is the Destroyer who seeks to kill above all else, not discriminating between the innocent little children and the guilty man whose heart the devil likely possessed. God does not cause such tragedies, but sometimes removes His restraining hand and allows mankind to see that the wages of sin is death.

Job lost everything of value; even his precious children. Where was God? Had He turned His back on Job? Would Job return the favor by turning his back on God? No! and NO! God had not deserted Job. And Job would not curse God, even though he was urged to do so. Where was God when Job was losing all? Where was He when Job’s children were killed? Where was He when Job’s flesh was wracked with pain? Job maintained his integrity and recognized that it was God’s sovereign prerogative to give and take, and it was his duty to “Bless the name of the Lord.” And in the end God was there giving him double of all he had lost!

“Where was God?” … We could go on and on and tell of many more experiences especially the treatment of the Apostles who, with the exception John, lost their lives as a result of bringing the Good News of Jesus Christ.

But maybe the greatest insight into the heart of God when a tragedy strikes such as this week is to respond in this way to the question…

“Where was God?” …

The same place He was on another Friday when His own son's innocent life was being taken from Him. Very present – Jesus was God in the flesh, enduring the pain for the benefit of others. (Matt 27) And even the Father didn't flee the scene, but simply turned His back in those final moments when the sin of the world was placed upon His Son. Even Jesus felt forsaken, and asked God why His presence wasn't felt. But God was present, but allowed sin to run its course, and that is always a most ugly scene!

We really can’t even imagine what Jesus went through. Not just the thorns on His brow. Not just the lashes on His back. Not just the bruises from the beatings. Not just the insult of being spit on. Not just the nails in His hands and feet. Not just the spear piercing His side. All of this, yes; plus the weight of the sins of the world pressing down on His shoulders.

Where was God when His one and only Son hung dying on the cross? Didn’t He know? Were the mockers right? Shouldn't Jesus have been able to come down from that cross? Couldn’t the Father have prevented it? Was He helpless? Was He not aware? Didn’t He care? Of course He knew! Of course He could have prevented it! Of course He could have stopped it! Of course He wasn’t helpless! Of course He was aware! And, Of course He cared! The Father knew it was happening, could have stopped it, … but He didn’t. For this we are glad!

He had a larger picture in view. There was a greater good to be accomplished by the suffering and death of Jesus. Through the suffering of One, many would be made whole. Through the sacrifice of One, many would have their sins forgiven. Through the death of One, many would be made alive.

He wasn’t just sitting idle and helpless as His Son suffered. He was using the schemes of wicked, evil hearts to bring about the redemption of mankind. He reminds us that … ““My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” … “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts. (Isa 55:8-9)

God was not surprised on that Friday in Connecticut
But He was saddened by it.

God did not cause this tragedy,
But He does comfort those affected by it.

God may not prevent future acts like this,
But He will provide peace to those whose hearts are filled with hatred if they will turn to Him.

Let us pray that America responds to this wake up call, that it will be used mightily for God's purposes of good, that we will return to Him, and that multitudes will come to Jesus like a little child in faith, and hop up into His lap, and let Him fill their hearts. Let us pray against the way Satan wants to use this. Already the devil is causing us to suddenly not feel so guilty about the sins in our own lives, because, by comparison, we're nothing like this evil maniac. The world says, Hey, I shouldn't feel so guilty about my drinking, adulterating, cheating, and such. I'm not like THAT guy. I'm a good person! Even Christians are prone to try to make ourselves feel better about our own wickedness by comparing ourselves to others. "Hey, I'm no child killer!"

No, we're all evil. “For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.” (Romans 3:23) God doesn't differentiate between big sins and little sins. We are all capable of great wickedness, and we prove it every day when we choose to do wrong...we prove ourselves as sinners in need of a Savior.

Judgment must begin in the house of God. The God who said, "if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land." (2 Chronicles 7:14) reminds us today that it begins in our homes and our church. The fix isn't found in simply posting guards in our schools or throwing more money at educating minds more. Wicked sin is in the heart, and hearts must be changed. No metal detector can change the evil human heart.

I like what author Max Lucado wrote about the tragedy:

Dear Jesus,
It’s a good thing you were born at night. This world sure seems dark. I have a good eye for silver linings. But they seem dimmer lately. These killings, Lord. These children, Lord. Innocence violated. Raw evil demonstrated. The whole world seems on edge. Trigger-happy. Ticked off. We hear threats of chemical weapons and nuclear bombs. Are we one button-push away from annihilation?

Your world seems a bit darker this Christmas. But you were born in the dark, right? You came at night. The shepherds were nightshift workers. The Wise Men followed a star. Your first cries were heard in the shadows. To see your face, Mary and Joseph needed a candle flame. It was dark. Dark with Herod’s jealousy. Dark with Roman oppression. Dark with poverty. Dark with violence.

Herod went on a rampage, killing babies. Joseph took you and your mom into Egypt. You were an immigrant before you were a Nazarene. Oh, Lord Jesus, you entered the dark world of your day. Won’t you enter ours? We are weary of bloodshed. We, like the wise men, are looking for a star. We, like the shepherds, are kneeling at a manger. This Christmas, we ask you, heal us, help us, be born anew in us.

Hopefully,

Your Children